Tag Archive | "accessory shop"

Posted on 07 May 2020

Welcome to JG Bestwick, the Allenton accessory shop where you can have your vape pen recharged while you get a new tow bar fitted.

That’s no exaggeration – owner John Bestwick is so committed to the sustained prosperity of this local landmark, that aside from the traditional oil, blades and paint offering, he does a roaring trade in e-cigarette equipment, bicycle tyres and key cutting, among other things.

That’s before mentioning the real money maker. A little while ago, John posted a competition to the shop’s Facebook page, with a set of Tennants ‘4D’ number plates (so called because they use laser-cut characters, rather than traditional stamped 3D number plates) offered to the winner. It soon went viral, attracting well over 17,000 views, and now they make up a ‘decent chunk’ of the shop’s income, with buyers coming from as far as Tamworth, more than 30 miles away. “There’s been no massive surge in accessory demand for years, but the exception is 3D and 4D number plates,” he explained. The units can be produced entirely in house, using the same machine as their standard counterparts, and are priced from £45 per pair.

Bestwicks opened on this site in 1953. The building was much smaller back then, and the shop largely depended on a pair of roadside petrol pumps to attract trade. John first stepped behind the till when helping his dad on weekends, before departing Derbyshire to join the Metropolitan Police at 19. When he returned in 1990, the shop was double the size. “One week I was driving a pursuit car in London, and the next I was standing behind a counter selling contacts and rotor arms.”

Back then, it was totally different: “We were still selling more hard parts, and we were a Haynes Gold Dealer, which meant we had 150-200 titles. We don’t stock any now.” Trends change, and Bestwicks had to adapt: “People don’t even want to touch their cars anymore,” John lamented. It’s not a family business anymore, either, although full-time employees Dean and Alan have been around so long that their camaraderie has become a big part of the shop’s appeal.

What really sets Bestwicks aside from the majority of high street independent accessory shops, aside from the sheer variety of its stock, is its presence on social media, and a website that’s as slick and intuitive as any of its mainstream competitors. John explained that he “was aware that internet sales were taking a chunk out of our trade,” and decided to hire a professional website developer, set up a Twitter page and learn all about SEO. The result? If you type ‘numberplates Derby’, or ‘horsebox maintenance Derbyshire’, into Google, Bestwicks is among the first results. It’s all organic traffic, too; “I’ve never paid for an advert,” John said proudly.

But the shop’s local reach is impressive, too. John is Chairman of the community traders association, having campaigned successfully to keep the two hours free parking on the high street and decorated the parade for Princess Anne’s 2019 visit, and has begun to exploit Allenton’s rural surroundings for a whole new source of income: horsebox repairs. “We’ve started to push it a bit more this year. Alan’s competent to do caravan servicing, and a horsebox is just a box on a trailer,” John explained. It’s opened up a whole new stream of revenue for the business, and – what’s more – exposed the brand to a whole new demographic of potential customers, who are not necessarily local residents. “It makes up an important part” of the shop’s income now, and is the reason why Bestwick’s company truck is a 4×4 Nissan Navara, rather than a small van – muddy, unmade roads are a common obstacle.

Ever looking forward, John has big plans for the shop’s online activities, perhaps expanding its Instagram following and filming a series of instructional videos in the shop’s servicing and fitting bay. And who knows what product lines he’ll diversify into next?

Posted on 09 January 2020

Parts distributor Sutton Auto Factors has acquired the four-branch Romac chain. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The four Romac stores in Heanor, Ripley, Spondon and Mickleover will continue, with no impact to the existing staff or customers, according to the new owner.

“Customers can expect to see the same faces, levels of service and customer care along with added value in choice, availability, quality and affordability”, says Andrew Wells, SAF General Manager. “We are delighted to welcome Romac into Sutton Auto Factors as we aim to achieve our goal of growth through offering the best available parts at the most competitive price.”

The four Romac branches are traditional customer facing shop fronts. They join the existing network of SAF stores in Ilkeston, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Long Eaton, Bulwell, Colwick, Bingham and Ollerton.

Posted on 22 October 2019

Proposals for electric cars to wear green number plates could bring additional revenue for plate makers, but are unlikely to ever come into effect, according to several accessory shop representatives. The Department for Transport has begun consulting on plans to make electric cars ‘even greener’ with the introduction of legally mandated coloured number plates. It claims that such a move would ‘raise awareness of the increasing number of zero tailpipe emission vehicles on UK roads, help their drivers to benefit more easily from local incentives like free or cheaper parking and encourage greater uptake of new vehicle technology’.

But how prepared are accessory shops and plate makers to produce the literally green units? Those CAT spoke to expressed surprise upon hearing the government’s plans.

Jon Rogers at Wrexham Motoring Supplies said he couldn’t see a good reason for such a scheme to be introduced. “Every electric car owner will need to buy new number plates,” he said, suggesting the plans could be a ‘DVLA money-making scheme’. Further confusing things, he argued, is the fact that most bus lane and car park cameras operate using ANPR technology, negating the need for any sort of different-coloured plate.

As regards the plan’s potential impact on number plate vendors, Rogers said: “The colouring method would dictate cost. If it’s just one section of the plate that needs changing, it wouldn’t cost too much.” WMS’s method of plate production means that a different colour could be relatively easily added, but shops using other means of production could see their overheads significantly increased. However, he noted that customary delays to relatively radical transportation reform means he ‘wouldn’t worry about this for another year’.

Dean Bayley at Leicester’s Epic Accessories was similarly confused. “I don’t know what the benefit is,” he said, asking: “will EVs being able to drive in bus lanes help traffic flow?” He also drew attention to the potential for increased cost, on both the consumer and supplier sides, and suggested that drivers of non-electric vehicles could resent any special treatment afforded to EV drivers.

Bayley also noted that new number plate laws, first announced in April 2018, are still yet to be implemented. The BS AU 145e standards are set to be introduced as a means of improving the legibility, durability and conformity of all British number plates, but have faced numerous setbacks, prompting Bayley to argue that the DfT is ‘not prioritising what it should have done a year and a half ago’. He added: “There’s that much up in the air – we don’t know if we’re coming or going.”

So first impressions of the radical proposals are, at least from the aftermarket, skeptical. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the green plates ‘are a really positive and exciting way to help everyone recognise the increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads,’ and it seems that mere differentiation is the prevailing motive. Any concerns regarding cost or feasibility appears, at least for now, to come second to disbelief that such a scheme could even be implemented.

Posted on 17 September 2018

FPS Distribution is to withdraw from the camping and caravanning market. The changes take effect from November 30th and are in response to space pressure across its warehouse network.

Products affected include ‘canvas’ camping products such as tents, awnings and related accessories. Stowage and towing products including Mont Blanc racks, roof boxes and towbars are not affected and will continue to be stocked.

In a press statement, a spokesman said: “Our programme and everyone’s diligent work have provided growth in this sector. However, our market has changed and our core motor components business is growing so fast that we now have capacity challenges”.–

Space pressure on Sheffield DC influenced decision

“By withdrawing from caravan and camping, we will create capacity in our supply chain at both Sheffield, and in our HGV and branch transport fleet. This will allow us to focus on improving and growing our core business” read the statement.

Posted on 03 April 2017

Factor giant Euro Car Parts has acquired the business of Team P R Reilly, a Dublin-based car parts, accessories and bodyshop business as well as Karkraft (N.I.) Ltd a paint and collision repair supply specialist. The deal expands ECPs operations across Ireland, following the acquisition of distributor Hella Ireland.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although the new owner announced that the 150 employees affected by the deal ‘will benefit from professional opportunities and training across LKQ Corporation’s global platform”. The senior management team from P R Reilly will remain in place.

Martin Gray, CEO of ECP said: “A strong track record, significant market expertise and a cultural approach so like our own, meant that the opportunity to work alongside (P R Reilly Owner) Norbert Reilly and the senior management team at Team P R Reilly was not to be missed. We immediately felt that we had the same goal in mind: to deliver exceptional customer service, keep the independent aftermarket competitive and support the industry in developing its own profile. Over the coming months, we will share best practices and take advantage of the opportunities to learn from one another across market sectors and distribution channels.”

UK Chairman and LKQ Board Member, Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Team P R Reilly colleagues to the family and the next stage of the incredible Euro Car Parts journey. Team P R Reilly has a heritage stretching back more than 75 years and we have a duty to our customers, partners, employees and suppliers to ensure that we build relationships that will lead to sustainable and considerable growth. Everyone has a part to play in our ambitious growth plans and I look forward to working with the senior team to support their strategic direction and leadership.”

Posted on 27 July 2015

An all-new WilcoMotosave depot is set to open.

The Swinton premises is set for an official opening on August 7. Like other stores in the network, the depot will stock a mix of car care and leisure items alongside a number of fitting bays offering tyres, exhausts and servicing.

Paul Green will manage the retail shop and Richard Palmer is to be the manager of the fitting bays. Both men are new to the Shortis Group.

The 4,500sq foot property is a prominent single story corner site on the Chorley Road, Swinton and a busy radius road that was the former A6.

Operations Director Carl Zajac said: “This is a great site and the staff worked hard to get it up and running in 15 days. Hopefully it will be the first of many on this side of the Pennines”

The former car showroom has been refurbished ahead of the launch, with new windows fitted to give an airy shop feel. Fitting bays are on the side of the building.

As is normal with the Shortis organisation the company owns the site as it has purchased the freehold.